The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival: Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone by Dene Low

Petronella is all set for her coming out party when something horrendous happens. Her uncle swallows a beetle at tea and suddenly begins craving insects.  On top of that, a kidnapping occurs at her party.  So Petronella, a forward-thinking and boisterous girl, decides to help in the investigation and winds up saving nearly everyone.

Although James's laughter irritated me, he looked absolutely endearing, with a dark shadow of beard just beginning to appear.  I longed to stroke his cheek to feel its roughness even as I longed to punch him in the jaw for being so obstructive and medieval.  p. 132

Funny and charming.  Those are the two words that come to mind when I think about trying to describe this book.  I loved the Wodehouse style writing with the jokes and the very proper way Petronella has of speaking.  This had the air of a mystery along with a comedy of manners and I thought it was an entertaining little book.

Petronella is a spunky, smart and determined heroine and she takes it upon herself to protect her uncle's secret and rescued the kidnapped from her party.  Partly to do what is right and partly because she cannot stop herself and partly because she is very clever.  She is a 1930's British Nancy Drew in a way.  I liked her best friend, Jane, and Jane's brother (who is also Petronella's secret crush) James is very cute.  Although I do hope he wisens up or he is going to lose the fabulous Petronella.

I checked the author's website for the next book and was sad to learn that, although it has been written, it hasn't found a publisher yet.  I hope that it does soon because I would love to read more of Petronella's adventures.

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